Air space restricted over cities

New York police officers prepare for this year's celebrations in Times Square.
Picture: AFP

The skies above New Year's Eve revellers in New York, Las Vegas and other United States cities will be off limits to certain aircraft and patrolled by warplanes as part of increased vigilance for terror attacks, the US Department of Homeland Security has revealed.

Nine days after raising the nation's terror alert to its second-highest level, the Government said temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) would be introduced over Las Vegas, New York city, Washington and downtown Chicago.

The temporary flight restrictions, which apply to chartered flights and smaller leisure aircraft, but not to commercial flights, will cover Las Vegas and New York city specifically during the New Year's holiday.

New York's Times Square and the Strip in Las Vegas are two of the more popular sites for New Year's Eve celebrations.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has said the Government would beef up security around large gatherings, which are viewed as potential terror targets.

Flights over downtown Chicago have been restricted under a "code orange TFR" since December 24, and there have been restrictions over Washington's airspace since the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Flight restrictions will also be implemented for most holiday football bowl games, including the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on New Year's Day and the giant parade that precedes it, Ms Sunbarger said.

New York city officials, who expect about 750,000 people to gather around Times Square on New Year's Eve later today Australian time, said this would be one of the most heavily guarded celebrations ever.

"We know that New York remains on top of the terrorist target list and so we have to remain vigilant," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told reporters in New York.

The Government has routinely used flight restrictions since the 2001 attacks, especially in areas US President George Bush is visiting.

Restrictions are often put in place during big sporting events or at times of heightened security alert over places like Disneyland, where large crowds gather.

Mr Ridge, who said on Monday that his department had ordered foreign airlines to put armed marshals on selected flights to and from the US, said military aircraft would also patrol US skies.

"We will have in play . . . not only temporary flight restrictions over cities but we will have aviation patrolling the skies and on alert," he said.

Warplanes are often on patrol or on standby in certain areas of the country, such as the eastern corridor from New York to Washington, when the alert level is raised to orange.

Mr Ridge said on Monday that planes would be ready to respond almost immediately if needed.

Homeland Security, which on December 21 raised its terror alert to the second-highest level - orange, or a "high" risk of attack - has said it is concerned about al-Qaeda's desire to attack commercial airlines in the US.

Mr Ridge also said the Government was as concerned now as it was nine days ago about a terrorist threat.

When he raised the alert level, Mr Ridge warned that there was a high risk of an attack that could be bigger than that of September 11.